Washed Away

AUTHOR: Abigail

SUMMARY: What if Padme was so worried about Anakin that she went looking for him at the Jedi Temple? The night of Anakin's turn to the Dark Side?

TIMELINE: During RotS, alternate universe.

CHAPTER 4: Awareness

RATING: T

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything that was created by George Lucas.

NOTE: I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while. To be frank, my boyfriend died two weeks ago in a car accident. Obviously, I haven't been handling it well and have been depressed. My passion for writing slowly died and it wasn't until two days ago that I left my room. I stumbled upon my story and decided to change my previous plot line. After what's happened, I've viewed things differently. I have a different perception towards the power of love. There are many stories on here that divulge in the fluff and innocence of Anakin and Padme's relationship. But I would like to explore the darkness, rawness, and frightening aspects of their powerful love. This means that this story will be full of more angst than I would like. I would appreciate it though if people would continue to read and review. Sorry about the long note. I just wanted people to realize why my story is taking a sudden turn. Thanks for your patience. Sorry if this update is a little short. I promise I will do my best to update daily, seeing as this story is pretty much the only stable thing in my life right now. Thanks again.

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Vader's eyes shifted back and forth, between his old Jedi Master, and finally stopping at his wife..."What is he doing here?" he spat, his eyes looking over her with a passionate anger. Padme struggled to speak but couldn't find the words...

"Anakin...please..." Obi-Wan said walking towards him. Vader's head snapped to the side at the mention of his former name, his eyes glaring at Obi-Wan.

"You...you're trying to turn her against me..." Vader yelled angrily. Obi-Wan looked to Padme, who finally began to speak.

"No, Anakin...Obi-Wan cares about me...and you...about us," she said demurely, not looking in his eyes, afraid of what she might see.

"You told him?" Vader hissed. Padme shook her head.

"He already knew, Anakin. He's our friend. Let him help you...we can get out of this mess...together..." she said, pleading with him.

"No, Padme. He can't help us. I'm the only one who will be strong enough to protect you in the end...I've grown more powerful than any Jedi had ever dreamed of," he said passionately. His face suddenly softened as he caught Padme's gaze. "And I've done it all for you...to save you...protect you..." Vader's comforting words did not soothe Padme, and deep within her heart...she could see past the deception...the mask of lies...

"I don't know you anymore..." she said painfully, her eyes filling with more tears. Padme quickly looked away, her body turning to face the wall behind her. Her mind drifted into an empty void...a void full of darkness, sadness, pain...Padme struggled to leave that place in her heart, but it was inevitable. The feeling of hopelessness stabbed at her heart, striking her forcefully, bringing her strength down. Padme herself realized for the first time in her life how much Anakin completed her. Sadly, it was only now that she realized it...now when he had ripped himself away from her for very futile reasons...but why? The question rang throughout her head.

It suddenly dawned upon her...the doubts, questions, and misconceptions finally formed one small epiphany. She was his salvation.

All of Anakin's life, he had been a slave. A slave to his Master on Tatooine, a slave to the Jedi Order, and now...a slave to the Dark Side. His world was dark and his future was clouded...but only one person was bright enough to break through the mist. Padme. She came to him, like an angel comes to the despondent and despaired. Anakin needed Padme...through her love he could seek deliverance...through her soft voice, large brown eyes, flowing hair, and strong character...he could be saved. She quickly turned around to face Anakin, her eyes searching into his soul...searching.

As her gaze dissected his every pore, another realization came to her. He was her salvation as well.

Padme was frightened, as the thought entered her mind. She didn't know why, but she was reminded of her nightmare...the vision that had come to her just hours ago. The horrible images consumed her once more, cascading through her body. The searing heat penetrated her skin, as if she had slipped into the nightmare again...reliving its hellish experience. She could feel each pore of her body explode with fire as she was slowly lowered into the overwhelming lava of her dream. But she was quickly ripped from her reverie at the sound of Obi-Wan's voice.

"Anakin...don't do this..." The words left the man's mouth slowly, as Padme's expressionless face took in the moment. Anakin still stood in front of her, only several feet away. It would take a small movement for her to run and fall into the comfort of his embrace. But something pulled her back...the look in his eyes. That glimmer of hate...No. Padme knew better than that. Behind the masquerade of evil that covered his eyes lay the exposed truth of his emotions. And Padme could easily see past it, and ached at the hurt that lay beneath his mask. She yearned to embrace him, whisper in his ear and soothe him. Tell him that it was all a dream, and that they would wake up in the morning, happily in love without a care in the world. But that wasn't what was happening. They both knew all too well the agonizing reality that they had been thrown into.

And now that Padme knew that Anakin Skywalker was gone, she was overcome with fear. This man...this stranger that had taken her love away...stood before her now, claiming he only wanted to save her. But Anakin, her husband, saved her...and this man was here to kill her. To give her a slow and painful death of a breaking heart. She looked up at this man to see him staring at her, his yellow eyes penetrating through her mind and ravishing her thoughts.

"You're with him...you've betrayed me..." he yelled at Padme, as he suddenly stepped towards her. Padme cowered back against the wall, never letting her eyes leave his burning gaze. "You brought him here to kill me, didn't you?" he added slowly. Padme winced at his words, her body shaking with fear once again. Obi-Wan stepped towards Anakin, his hand reaching out with a warning.

"Don't do this Anakin," he said, his eyes scanning over the dark shadows that cloaked his face. It was then that Obi-Wan noted the layers of thick smoke that began to surge down from the ceiling, filling the room with a menacing smog. His eyes then darted over to Padme, whose trembling frailness still cowered in the corner, her ashen face fixated upon Anakin.

"She lied to me..." Anakin hissed slowly, grasping Obi-Wan's attention once more. The Jedi Master paused, letting the hateful words sink into him. He tried to reach out to the Force, his mind peeling away the layers of deception that hid its power from him. If only Obi-Wan could seek the guidance...if only Yoda was here to help him. Anakin's twisted mind was beyond the persuasion of a simple Jedi like himself. He could slowly feel the tendrils of the Force responding to him, slowly trickling into his mind and body. Help me...he called out silently.

Use his weakness...a voice responded. Obi-Wan listened patiently, letting the words sink in. Anakin's weakness...It was Padme of course. Love.

"You turned her against me..." Anakin continued, the anger building in his voice as his spiteful eyes darted back and forth between Padme and Obi-Wan, as if they had him cornered, trapped...Obi-Wan ignored the deceptions that Anakin continued to speak of, his mind still searching out to the Force. Its power was surging through him now, filling him with the will he needed...

"You have done that yourself..." Obi-Wan responded suddenly, his eyes fixated upon the smoke that continued to pour in from above. Anakin was taken aback by his response, and quickly took a step toward him, while his hand slithered down towards his belt. His fingers slowly wrapped around his sheathed light saber.

"You will not take her from me..." Vader said leisurely, as he pulled his weapon out, unleashing his saber and activating it. The room was quickly illuminated, each corner shining with a bright blue sheen. Obi-Wan remained motionless as he watched Anakin stalk towards him. He only allowed his head to move slightly when he noticed Padme, her face paler than before as she struggled to remain standing, her body numb with emotion. Obi-Wan knew he had to act quickly before it was too late.

"You've already accomplished that yourself Anakin...look at what you've done to Padme..." Obi-Wan replied, articulating each word with emphasis, his mind and body calming into a peaceful feeling of easiness. Vader slowly turned his head, his body twisting as he faced Padme. Their eyes met as he looked at her...

Padme wanted to turn away from him, but his gaze bored upon her...scanning her...watching her...staring at her...Then she noticed his eyes soften, and a small flame of hope flickered in her heart. Padme watched silently as the charade fell away...and Anakin was exposed to her, his eyes clearly open and his heart raw and bare. A small sigh escaped her lips, and her body ceased to shudder in fear.

Anakin slowly lowered the saber as he deactivated it...letting it rest by his side. "Padme..." he whispered softly, the gentleness flowing sweetly from his trembling lips. His saber slowly tumbled to the floor as the new outpouring of emotions dawned on him. With incredible struggle, he weakly let his arms reach out towards Padme as he took a step towards her. Padme watched him, her heart slowly shrinking and shriveling as it broke in two. She shed a single tear, the glossy drop flowing down her cheek until it spilled onto the ground below.

"Anakin..." She called out to him, her voice crackly with the sobs that were caught in her throat. Her body began to respond, as her frail hand reached out towards him. But she suddenly froze when her eyes caught a small movement behind Anakin. It was then that she saw Obi-Wan, who had dexterously circled behind Anakin in his moment of vulnerability. Padme wanted to scream out...but her body was numb and unable to move. Anakin stopped once he reached Padme, his hands running down the length of her arms.

"I'm so sorry...I..." he managed to mumble, his mind searching for the words to say. He lowered his head in humiliation as he quickly wrapped his arms around her. Padme began to shake once more, as her eyes carefully watched Obi-Wan outstretch his arms in front of him. His face was stern with conviction, as he inhaled slowly. Obi-Wan's eyes slowly closed, as he felt the Force fully enter him. She struggled under Anakin's embrace as she tried to speak...to move...to warn Anakin. While she remained frozen and numb, her mind was screaming at her. But soon it was too late and Anakin was ferociously ripped from her arms once more...